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February 14, 2017

Kapitolyo has been a food haven among foodies since 2009, back when people would visit this famous car wash place for their really good, no-frills, burgers. Today, the neighborhood continuous to house several upcoming food establishments offering a variety of cuisines from around the world. There's Thai, Indonesian, Chinese, American, Mexican, Japanese, Filipino, Singaporean, and now, even Latin American.

Tittos Latin BBQ & Brew is a fairly new restaurant across the original branch of Charlie's Grind & Grill in Kapitolyo. Tittos features Latin American dishes skillfully prepared by their head chef, Jerwyn Rabo.

Chef Jerwyn, describes Tittos' menu as fusion, taking after Latin American cuisine, without fully abandoning its Filipino roots. The kitchen team underwent a long series of research and development, to come up with a diverse menu suited for the Filipino palate.

It has been a while since we last visited the Kapitolyo area, and with restaurants opening here and there, it was comforting to see how the neighborhood retained its charm amidst competition.

Stepping inside Tittos, the first things you'd notice are the cool and colorful murals on the wall.

The second floor has some couch seats with a unique brick tunnel design for a more intimate dining setup, and an alfresco dining area for smoking guests.

During our visit, we were served with some of the Tittos' bestsellers. To say it was a feast would be an understatement, as it looked like we were served with the restaurant's full menu lineup. Later we learned, that their menu consists of more than 70 items, and they still plan to add more.

Let us start with the appetizers and Tittos' bestselling street tacos.

Platittos! (Small Plates)

The starters came in almost simultaneously, and filled the table in an instant.

First came one of Titto's must-try appetizers, the Elote (P195)- char-grilled sweet corn, coated in a special rub of smoked paprika butter, tamarind spice, and mayo lime, then topped with crumbled queso fresco and crunchy chicharon bits.

You may have it shredded which makes it easier to enjoy, especially for big groups. I don't usually order corn for appetizers at restaurants, but Tittos' elote offers a playful flavors or citrus and spice that you could not resist. Definitely a must-try!!

Being a sucker for chicken wings, I wouldn't miss trying out Tittos Wings (P245). Although it was no longer crispy when we tried it, I still enjoyed the flavor of chipotle bbq glaze, complemented with a creamy bleu cheese dip.

Street Tacos
An order of Tittos street tacos comes in a pair of soft mini tortillas, topped with succulent meat favorites, and served with 3 kinds of sauces- garlic mexican crema, salsa verde, and spicy salsa roja.

The Beef Barbacoa (P145) is a safer option for those looking for both flavor and texture. The tender slow-cooked beef belly served on black tortillas, is topped with chimichurri, pico de gallo, pickled onion, slaw, and tortilla crisps for added texture in every bite.

It may be quite overwhelming for some, but we found it really good and tasty. It's a bit messy to eat with its runny sauce, but it successfully captured the bold and savory taste of the local Pinoy dish.

My personal favorites are the light and healthy Cucumber Edelflower made with cucumber juice, edelflower syrup, mint and lime juice, and the sweet House Blend Iced Tea that's earl grey-based, with passion fruit and chia seeds. the Horchata was also an interesting drink of rice milk with cinnamon and almond syrup.

Paellera! (Paella)

Tittos offers two equally mouthwatering paella dish perfect for sharing. It comes in two sizes, medio for 4-6 pax, and grande that is good for 8-10 persons.

Another signature dessert is Frozen Brazo de Mercedes (P190) with vanilla ice cream and berries.

For cheesecake lovers, the Dulce de Leche Cheesecake (P190) is a rich and creamy cheesecake, topped with dulce de leche, caramelized corn flakes, chocolate and strawberry puree.

It's hard to choose a favorite among all desserts we've tried because all were equally good, but I'll probably order the Frozen Brazo again on my next visit. All were exceptionally sweet, which makes everything ideal for sharing. Just a spoonful or two could already fix one's sweet tooth craving.

Tittos Latin BBQ & Brew is definitely worth the travel to Kapitolyo. It is a great hangout place after a long day's work, plus prices are reasonable, and servings are generous enough for sharing. Another reason to visit Tittos is this hidden private bar at the back of the restaurant called RM-16. You won't see any signage, but it is there behind this Coca-Cola door.

You just have to know the passcode, and get access to one of the newest exclusive speakeasy in Kapitolyo.

Although the secret bar is not known to many, you'd be surprised to witness how the place gets packed during weekends. There's no door charge for guests, but a minimum consumable amount of P5,000 is required during weekends. Prior reservation is also recommended to ensure a table for your group.

RM-16 is not too big and crowded compared to other bars around the metro, but it is a nice hangout place for people wanting to escape from the city's wild and bustling night life. Drinks and bar chow rates are also priced reasonably than most bars out there, so you'll definitely enjoy the night away with your friends or colleagues without feeling ripped off.